ISP Traffic Management: Truth Must Come Out

Have you ever wondered why your broadband connection speeds vary so much? Well it looks like you won’t have to wonder too much longer, as some of the UK’s biggest broadband providers will soon be publishing details of their ISP traffic management policies.

As a recent bbc.co.uk article reports, Virgin Media, Sky and BT are just a few of the broadband companies that will be providing clearer information on how they slow down their users’ connection speeds in order to maintain their network’s performance.

The firms claim they want to help their customers understand why they have to vary connections. Once the code of practice – which has been drawn up by the Broadband Stakeholder Group – comes into force, users will be able to view a breakdown of how and when their connections are slowed.

Members that sign up to the new code of practice will have to provide information on how much they decrease the speeds, how long they are decreased for, and whether or not certain services are slowed down, prioritized or blocked.

Anthony Walker, chief executive of the Broadband Stakeholder Group, said that a lot of the broadband companies already provide details about their traffic management policies, but the new code of practice means that they would all allow customers to compare Internet Service Providers.